People · Podcast guest
James Rixon
Founder · Rixon Architecture
James Rixon, founder of Rixon Architecture in Cambridge, on retrofit and low-energy design. Hear his Architecture Social podcast conversation on sustainable retrofit.
- Current role
- Founder
- Practice
- Rixon Architecture
- Location
- Cambridge, UK
- On the podcast
- 1 episode · 2024
The story so far
The path behind James's work.
James Rixon is the founder and director of Rixon Architecture, a Cambridge practice specialising in retrofit and low-energy design. He set up the practice in 2016 and ran it as a digitally nomadic studio for a period, including a year travelling with his family, before settling in Cambridge (having previously been based in South London).
James focuses on making existing buildings fit for the future, working with homeowners and building owners on phased, low-carbon interventions that improve comfort and cut energy use over time. He has completed Certified Passive House Designer training, is involved in the Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN), and is a co-founder and director of the Cambridge Retrofit Hub, a community benefit society supporting place-based retrofit.
Episode 0209 · Architecture Social · 42:53
Sustainable Futures with James Rixon: Retrofit Architecture
Retrofit is one of the biggest practical challenges in architecture: how do we make existing buildings work harder, last longer and use less carbon without treating sustainability as a bolt-on?
Inside the conversation
6 moments to start with- 01
00:00 · Introduction to retrofit and sustainability
- 02
05:00 · Getting on with retrofit before policy catches up
- 03
10:00 · Thoughtful design without unnecessary cost
- 04
15:00 · Training, knowledge gaps and upskilling
- 05
20:00 · Retrofit networks and shared knowledge
- 06
25:00 · AI experiments and design tools
Profile in brief
The work and context behind James's conversation.
- Current role
- Founder
- Practice
- Rixon Architecture
- Location
- Cambridge, UK
Continue exploring
Meet the practice behind the work.
Cambridge architecture practice specialising in retrofit and low-energy design, led by James Rixon, a Certified Passive House Designer.
Podcast · moments that play
Start where the idea starts.
- 05:00James Rixon · Audio onlyListen from 05:00 in the full episode.
Getting on with retrofit before policy catches up
- 10:00James Rixon · Audio onlyListen from 10:00 in the full episode.
Thoughtful design without unnecessary cost
- 15:00James Rixon · Audio onlyListen from 15:00 in the full episode.
Training, knowledge gaps and upskilling
- 20:00James Rixon · Audio onlyListen from 20:00 in the full episode.
Retrofit networks and shared knowledge
- 25:00James Rixon · Audio onlyListen from 25:00 in the full episode.
AI experiments and design tools
- 30:00James Rixon · Audio onlyListen from 30:00 in the full episode.
Helping homeowners decarbonise confidently
Selected work from Rixon Architecture
Three projects, one connected practice.
A closer look at the practice’s work
Clunch House
A fabric-first refurbishment in Cambridge that replaced cement render with breathable insulation and lime render.
View project →Contemporary barn house, Laxfield
Full planning approval for a contemporary barn-inspired three-bedroom house in the rear garden of a Grade II listed Suffolk farmhouse.
View project →Glass extension, Cambridge
A contemporary glazed extension on a tight city-centre Cambridge site, replacing a timber balcony to bring in light and connect to the garden.
View project →